‘Fall’ Czechs out for helmer Hrebejk

World Brief

PRAGUE — An Oscar nomination for “Divided We Fall” came as sweet revenge for Czech filmmaker Jan Hrebejk. Last year’s big local success, “Cozy Dens,” was overlooked by the Czech film community for an Oscar bid and shut out at the national Czech Lion awards.

Hrebejk told Daily Variety this year’s Oscar nomination came as “a big surprise for us.” The first inkling he had was when Sony picked the film up for distribution during January’s Sundance Film Festival. Hrebejk is realistic about the possibilities of a small, unknown Czech film beating out Taiwan’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” but said the nom adds fresh luster to the Czech reputation for filmmaking.